Frenchman in Dominican Rep. ‘air cocaine’ case ‘a flight risk’

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez on Tuesdaywarned of the “threats" that French national Christophe Naudin could behelped to escape, and cautioned other authorities be on the alert.

"Naudin could be helped to escape in the same way hehelped the two French pilots (Jean Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos) escape,"the official said.

Dominguez said he expects the courts will realize that Naudinposes a “serious” escape risk. "He cannot obtain his release because thereare serious threats through mechanisms and actions which can achieve hisfreedom."

"You know that when there’s house arrest or bail thereis no control of that. And that person doesn’t have roots and can be abscondedout in the same manner as the pilots," the official said.

He stressed that the Dominican Republic managed toextradite Naudin whereas both pilots are being held in France.

The National District Office of the Prosecutor yesterday saidNaudin will be taken to the Permanent Attention Court at Ciudad Nueva for arraignmentat 5pm Tuesday.